Page 17 - Budget 2026

Budget 2026: Govt raises infra spending by 8.8% to record ₹12.2 trillion

India has significantly raised infrastructure spending after the Covid-19 pandemic, aiming to boost economic growth and create more jobs in the world's most populous country

Derivatives trading to get costlier: STT on options premium raised to 0.15%

Budget 2026 raises STT on options and futures to curb speculation

Budget 2026: What the sodium antimonate duty cut means for the solar sector

Union Budget 2026 removes basic customs duty on sodium antimonate, a specialised chemical used in photovoltaic glass, offering cost relief and competitiveness gains for solar glass manufactures

Budget 2026: Govt allocates ₹600 crore for three dedicated chemical parks

For the first time, the Union Budget provides a dedicated allocation for chemical parks, with ₹600 crore earmarked in the Budget Estimates for 2026-27

Decoded: Share buybacks to be taxed as capital gains under Budget 2026

In a big relief to minority shareholders, now buyback of shares will again be taxed as capital gains tax and hence long term shares tendered in buyback will be taxed only at 12.5% as against the norma

Budget 2026: Biopharma to medical tourism, push for healthcare value chain

Union Budget 2026 proposes measures across biopharma manufacturing, medical education, research, affordable drugs, AYUSH and medical tourism, signalling a deeper healthcare strategy

Budget 2026: Centre announces ₹20,000 cr plan to scale carbon capture tech

Union Budget 2026: The Centre will launch a ₹20,000 crore scheme over five years to promote carbon capture technologies across power, steel, cement, refineries and chemical sectors

Budget proposes to set up dedicated REITs to recycle CPSE realty assets

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said CPSE assets will be recycled through Reits, a move experts say could expand investable real estate supply, deepen markets and provide liquidity

​STT hike in F&O may dent FII flows; trading volumes may thin: Analysts

STT kike will be a headwind for capital-market-linked stocks. With derivatives volumes already shrinking in recent months, the hike, analysts say, may further their pressure near-term earnings.

Income Tax Act 2025 to be implemented from April 1: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the Income Tax Act, 2025 will be implemented from April 1 and rules and tax returns forms will be notified shortly. Beginning April 1, the Income Tax Act, 2025, will come into force replacing the six-decade-old tax law and the changes made in tax laws in 2026-27 Budget will be incorporated in the new legislation. In her Budget speech in the Lok Sabha on Sunday, she said, "This (direct tax code) was completed in record time and the Income Tax Act 2025 will come into effect from first April 2026. The simplified income tax rules and forms will be notified shortly, giving adequate time to taxpayers to acquaint themselves with its requirements." The forms have been redesigned, such that ordinary citizens can comply without difficulty, she added. The 2025 I-T law is revenue neutral with no change in tax rates. It has only made direct tax laws simple to understand, removed ambiguities, thereby reducing scope for litigations. It reduces te

Govt proposes launch of Khelo India mission to transform sports sector

The government's flagship Khelo India programme to scout grassroots-level sporting talent is set to get a boost with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday proposing the launch of a Khelo India mission to also focus on systemic development of training centres and coaches over the next decade. Presenting the Union Budget for the year 2026-27, the minister said the mission will facilitate an integrated talent development programme through inter-linking pathways. The Khelo India programme was launched in 2017 and its primary objective was to hold national level competitions across age groups for talent identification. "Sports sector provides multiple means of employment, skilling and job opportunities. Taking forward the systematic nurturing of sports talent which is set in motion through the Khelo India programme, I propose to launch a Khelo India mission to transform the sports sector over the next decade," Sitharaman said during her Budget speech in the Lok Sabha. "The missio

FM proposes duty-free imports of specified inputs for leather exports

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday proposed duty-free imports of certain specified inputs for promoting the country's exports of leather. The move will help provide cushion to leather exporters who are reeling under the steep 50 per cent US tariffs. The country's leather and leather products shipments dipped marginally 0.23 per cent to USD 3.3 billion during April-December 2025-26. She also exempted parts used to manufacture microwave ovens from basic customs duty. Sitharaman announced that India will develop 15 archaeological sites, including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Sarnath, and Hastinapur. She also proposed to extend the time period of exports of final products from six months to one year for exporters of leather, and textile garments. Further the minister said that the government will support Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India to scale up production of assistive devices.

FM announces ₹10,000 cr container manufacturing scheme, 20 new waterways

New ship repair facilities for river vessels, coastal cargo promotion scheme also announced

F&O STT hike unlikely to deter active traders; markets will come around

The key message from the Budget is clear: fiscal consolidation will continue alongside growth, supported by responsible financial management

BSE stock price tanks 15% after Budget 2026; why did the stock fall today?

The government proposes to increase the securities transaction tax, raising STT on futures from 0.02% to 0.05% and on options premium from 0.1% to 0.15%.

Budget 2026: FM Sitharaman pegs fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP for FY27

FM Nirmala Sitharaman pegged FY27 fiscal deficit at 4.3% of GDP, signalling continued fiscal consolidation, with net tax receipts seen at ₹28.7 trillion and higher tax devolution to states

Missed your tax deadline? Budget 2026 offers relief with March 31 extension

The move gives individuals more time to correct errors or file returns that were missed earlier in the assessment year.

Budget 2026: Buying property from an NRI? TDS rules will now get simpler

The move is aimed at easing compliance for resident buyers, who earlier had to apply for a TAN solely to deposit TDS when purchasing property from non-resident Indians (NRIs).

FM announces ₹10,000 crore scheme to promote biopharma manufacturing

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Mission Biopharma Shakti in the Budget, a five-year ₹10,000 crore programme to build domestic capabilities in biologics, biosimilars and clinical research

Budget boosts electronics component scheme outlay to ₹40,000 crore

The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme has attracted investment commitments far exceeding its target, prompting the government to raise the scheme's outlay to ₹40,000 crore